Mortain - with the Abbey Blanche at Le Neufbourg, which was founded as a Benedictine convent in 1105. The church is a perfect example of a monastic church in the Cisterian style, and there are areas of the 12th century cloisters that survive. There are also the ruins of the castle of Sir Guillame de Mortain at the Gap of Goeblin, Le Petite Chapel from which you can see Mont St Michel on a clear day and the cascades, two wonderful waterfalls you can walk through - all just 5 minutes drive away.

Mont St Michel, a wonderful place to visit with the little town and shops winding up to the top of the Mount. Trips need to be planned around the tides to access Mont St Michel.The Mont is the second most popular tourist attraction in France - with the Eiffel Tower taking 1st place! 

Mediaveal Towns and Castles:  Domfront, Fougeres, Liseux, Bayeux, Mayenne, Vitre, Rennes, Lassay les Chateaux, too many more to mention, all within 10 - 80 minutes drive. Most have great shops as well as fantastic chateaux. http://en.tourisme-rennes.com/

Market towns, with little shops, boulangeries (bakers) and markets abound in the region - for instance: Vire, St Hilaire du Harcourt, Avranches, Villedieu LesPoeles (famous town for making pans and bells) Coutances and St Lo.

Look out too for the cider and calvados makers, especially on local farms where you can taste before you buy. Most also produce pommeau and an array of jams 'confitures'.

Bathing beaches can be found on the Normandy coast (and also at some inland beaches/lakes, including the fabulous Sille le Guillame).

Granville has wonderful fish restaurants and a multitude of cafes, restaurants, creperies and shops. You can also take day trips to the Channel Islands from the harbour. ttp://www.discover-normandy.info/region3_places_granville.htm

Other places worth a visit: Cancale (great for oysters, mussels etc on the beach), St Malo, Dinard, Dol de Bretagne (tudor style architecure and big cathedral) and Dinan although in Brittany, are also within easy reach. Bagnoles Le Orne is a very pretty spa town with a lake in the cnentre of town.

Paris is around 2.5 -3 hrs away by train- you can get a train from local towns to Paris quite easily.

See the useful websites page for links to places mentioned here!